I picked Rock Bottom up at a bookstore on a fluke. The cover looked interesting, and the back cover synopsis sounded interesting. In short, it's the last 24-hours of a mediocre rock band. The author, Michael Shilling, used to be in a mediocre rock bottom. And it was set in Amsterdam. So knowing only that, I purchased the book.
And do you know what? It's a damn fine read. It's funny. It's intelligently written. You care for the characters, and for the most part, the five main characters in this book aren't very sympathetic people.
The band is the Blood Orphans. The next big thing. And they were formed for the purpose of being the next big thing. Darlo the drummer was the son of a porn king. Adam was the virtuoso guitar player who could play anything on the guitar as well playing just about any other instrument. Bobby the bassist had eczema and could barely play. Shane the lead singer was a born-again Christian turned into a pontificating Buddhist. And Joey the manager who started her music management company from the funds she received after having a leg mangled in a car accident.
The band was Joey and Darlo's idea. A Spinal Tap for real kind of band that would sing awful, loud, politically-incorrect songs, but in an ironical manner because they were in the know. And Warners signed them to a huge contract and advance and they were going to open for Aerosmith until that moment when Spin magazine came out and called the Blood Orphans CD racist. And the Aerosmith tour was no more and the radio stations wouldn't play their songs.
The book picks up in Amsterdam on the morning of their last concert of their second European tour. They're not staying in fancy hotels anymore. They're bunking in the house of a music groupie. The band members all hate each other. And Joey's just found out that Warners is dropping the band.
Over the day Bobby finds a girlfriend. Shane dumps all of his religious beliefs. Adam regains his confidence and sets the stage for a successful post-Blood Orphans career. Darlo's dad is arrested and Darlo relives painful childhood memories while he and Joey come to realize that they're meant for each other.
All of that is interesting. Most of these people, especially Darlo, Joey, and Shane are unsympathetic characters who we begin to pull for as the day advances. But the most interesting character is Amsterdam. Perhaps it's because I just returned from Amsterdam, and perhaps it's because I've been to Amsterdam around Christmas -- the time period of this book -- and perhaps it's because I've roamed Amsterdam by foot in rain and sunlight, but this book really captures that Amsterdam and it's character.
There's the absurdity of the whole Red Light District and how the girls just see the guys as customers and not people. And just a few steps away you're in quiet neighborhood. The book captures the insanity of the bike riders. And the people. I felt like I was walking the streets and canals and alleys like the characters of the book. So I give it a good recommendation. Give it a read. I think you'll like it.
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